Inside the Ubuntu 13.10 Linux 'Saucy Salamander' Linux Desktop

Inside the Ubuntu 13.10 Linux 'Saucy Salamander' Linux Desktop

Ubuntu 13.10 Isn't a Sharp Departure From Prior Releases

For current Ubuntu Linux users, the basic desktop login and interface carry forward from the 13.04 release.

Full Disk Encryption Is an Installation Option

In this modern era where data thefts and breaches are commonplace, disk encryption is a key feature and it is one that is part of the Ubuntu 13.10 experience.

Ubuntu One Provides Cloud Access to Apps, Photos and Music

Apple's iCloud isn't the only operating system with cloud backup for users. Ubuntu 13.10 includes the Ubuntu One system, which provides cloud-based access to apps, photos and music.

Ubuntu 13.10 Is Powered by a Linux 3.11 Kernel

Sitting at the core of Ubuntu 13.10 is the new Linux 3.11 Linux kernel, which was officially released by Linux creator Linus Torvalds in early September.

Security and Privacy Settings Come Together in 13.10

Ubuntu has included security settings for the user desktop alongside privacy settings for determining what information should be kept private.

Ubuntu Smart Scopes Expands Search Options

Ubuntu 13.10 introduces a feature called Smart Scopes, which is supposed to bring in relevant search information from beyond just the user's desktop. A simple search for the commonly used Terminal application, however, shows how the relevancy of the results can be somewhat inappropriate.

Users Can Filter Smart Scopes Search Results

Ubuntu 13.10 provides a long list of different filters for search results to help users find information.

Firefox Is the Default Web Browser in Ubuntu 13.10

Although there had been some discussion during the Ubuntu 13.10 development process about using Google Chrome as the default browser, Mozilla Firefox remains the default.

LibreOffice Provides Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Presentation Apps

For core office suite functionality, the default application that is included with Ubuntu 13.10 is, once again, LibreOffice.

Need More Apps? Just Go to Ubuntu Software Centre

While the Ubuntu 13.10 Linux distribution comes with a lot of applications, even more are available to users via the Ubuntu Software Centre. The Ubuntu Software Centre shows both free and paid commercial applications.

The open-source Ubuntu Linux operating system, which in recent years has become one of the most popular distributions, is about to get a major update. On Oct. 17, Canonical, the lead commercial sponsor behind the Ubuntu project, will release Ubuntu 13.10, also referred to as the "Saucy Salamander," with new desktop, server and cloud-facing features. On the desktop, the Saucy Salamander does not mark a dramatic visual departure from its predecessor, Ubuntu 13.04, also known as the "Raring Ringtail." The 13.10 desktop does, however, benefit from a new Smart Scopes feature, which provides a unified search capability across local and network drives, as well search results from other user-definable online locations. With the Saucy Salamander, Ubuntu has also merged security and privacy settings into one system, making it easier to control and manage. In addition, the new Ubuntu release benefits from the recent Linux 3.11 kernel, providing improved performance and stability. For cloud users, Ubuntu 13.10 includes the latest OpenStack Havana release, as well as improvements to the Ubuntu Juju service orchestration system. In this slide show, eWEEK takes a look at some of the features packed into the Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander release.